Seoul, South Korea — 10–12 November 2025:
Prof. Dr. Syed Waqar-ul-Qounain, Director of the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI), University of the Punjab, represented Pakistan at the Multicountry Study Mission on Productivity Innovation through AI Transformation, organized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and the Korea Productivity Center (KPC).

The mission brought together delegates from across Asia to examine South Korea’s remarkable progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, digital governance, and enterprise-wide digital transformation. Participants engaged in a series of specialized academic and technical sessions led by internationally recognized experts, covering Korea’s national AI policies and long-term digital transformation roadmap, global productivity trends shaped by artificial intelligence, and the macroeconomic implications of large-scale AI adoption. The sessions also explored enterprise-level AI integration, modern data governance frameworks, intelligent process automation, and strategies for building a sustainable and inclusive workforce in the age of AI. Collectively, these discussions offered deep insights into the policy structures, technological foundations, and strategic interventions that have positioned South Korea as a global leader in AI-driven innovation and productivity enhancement.

During the mission, Prof. Dr. Waqar-ul-Qounain participated in expert sessions on national AI policy, digital transformation, data governance, and AI-enabled economic growth. The delegation also visited key institutions including the AI Summit Seoul & Expo 2025, the Seoul Robot & AI Science Museum, and DOUZONE BIZON, gaining insights into cutting-edge AI applications in industry and public services.

Key takeaways for Pakistan include the need for a unified national AI strategy, strong data governance frameworks, workforce upskilling, and enhanced academic–industry collaboration to accelerate innovation and improve productivity.

The participation of Prof. Dr. Waqar-ul-Qounain strengthens the University of the Punjab’s commitment to advancing responsible AI research and contributes to Pakistan’s readiness for global technological transformation.